God's Ultimate Will for the Body

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Today's Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16
Memory Verses: Eph. 4:1-3, 13-16

In our society, we often laugh at how ridiculous it looks when some parents allow their children to remain in one developmental stage too long (in diapers, or keeping the pacifier, for example). But even the most tolerant person would gladly admit that an eight-year-old who still has to be changed or nursed is no laughing matter. This is the image the Father wants to give us of the state of our individual churches, and His body as a whole, so that we can develop an intolerant attitude for the things that keep us from growing up.

The passage speaks of us walking worthy of our calling (that of saints), free from confusion and re-hashing old matters that only cause us to walk in strife with one another. A child's dependence on his mother for nourishment rather than wanting to feed himself is a sign of selfishness, which is what we communicate when we put ourselves before the needs of others.

For this reason, God's ultimate will for His children was to supply us with the Holy Spirit, Who would require us to exercise the character of humility, longsuffering, and patient love. He knows that His children will never desire to become potty-trained without His Spirit, which will result in our leaving the stench of our old sin nature everywhere we go. So thanks be to the Father for knowing that we need our apostles, pastors, prophets, evangelists, and teachers to train and equip us on how to let go of our destructive attitudes while learning how to treat one another.

Through this painstaking process, we learn how to submit to His will. But we slow the progress down when we become impatient with others in the body who have not yet understood how important it is to depend on the Holy Spirit's discipline. But God is merciful, and has already promised that He will send His Son back for a church without spot or wrinkle. So you'd better believe He will continue to convict and woo us through His Spirit until we ALL come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, mature and ready to reflect Christ's love to a dying world.

Prayer: Father, how loving and patient You are, setting up a plan for Your children that involves training us to let go of the things that do not bring Your Name glory. Forgive us for sometimes forgetting that our lives are not just about us, but that You are equipping us for growing Your kingdom. Help me do my part to work with the Holy Spirit and keep unity in the bond of peace as You accomplish Your Will in all our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.